Derby were found wanting from corners as they failed to extend their one-point advantage over West Bromwich on a night when little went right for them.

Although they constantly retreated into their own penalty area, Stoke managed to repel the increasingly desperate home attack as Davies' team failed to make the most of the first of their two games in hand.

Davies said: "We pre-warned our players that they were dangerous at set-pieces, so it's disappointing. But we created a serious amount of chances in the second half as well as having a goal wiped out for offside which I should have stood."

Dean Leacock, who Davies revealed had been playing following a knee injection, had already been cautioned when he inexplicably handled Lee Hendrie's 15th-minute corner.

Former Derby defender Danny Higginbotham, who had a vicious verbal exchange with some angry Derby fans after the final whistle, slotted home what was only the second successful Stoke strike in 530 minutes of play.

Eleven minutes later, the travelling contingent were celebrating again as Derby switched off. Hendrie swung over a routine cross, Dominic Matteo running in front of his man to nod home the second.

Despite being buoyed by this, Stoke retreated into their penalty area, inviting the inevitable pressure.

The outcome may have been different had Matt Oakley's 12-yard shot not hit Higginbotham and gone for a corner after a succession of players queued up in a desperate goalmouth scramble on the stroke of half-time.

After the interval, the attacks became more predictable as was the inevitable frustration among the home support, particularly when referee Keith Stroud penalised substitute Arturo Lupoli for offside after the Italian had, for once, strolled through Stoke's determined rearguard.

In the final moments, Matteo threw his shirt to the ground after being substituted and Higginbotham had to be held back by his team-mates after an altercation with home fans.

Pulis said nothing had been mentioned by his players about any incident involving his skipper and he was more concerned with a victory that leaves Stoke one win outside the play-offs.

He said: "It was a great win. We needed those three points and it's all to play for. I don't think we have been playing badly. We just haven't been scoring the goals our play merited.

"They are all as happy as Larry in there. Dominic was unhappy at being substituted, but there is no room for anyone with an ego at this club."